MotoGP | Official, Johann Zarco with KTM

MotoGP Riders Market – Johann Zarco will race in the next two seasons with KTM and will join the confirmed Pol Espargarò on the RC16.

The French rider, current rider of the Yamaha Tech 3 Team, will return to riding a bike from the Austrian manufacturer, the company with which he had already raced in the 2007 Red Bull Rookies Cup.

“My career will continue where it all began, from the Red Bull Rookie Cup to winning the MotoGP title. You got it, I'm joining Ktm Factory Racing for the next two years. I am very happy to get on this KTM with which we share the same ambitions: ready to race!” – the French pilot wrote on Facebook.

Here's what Pit Beirer (KTM Motorsports Director) had to say instead:.

“There has always been a good contact with Johann from the Red Bull Rookies Cup. We supported the Moto2 project through WP and our Moto3 Team Manager Aki Ajo is a good friend of his, as well as we have a good relationship with his manager Laurent Fellon . It was a group effort to achieve this. We had to rely on our ability to build a winning bike and Johann would not have come to us if he hadn't seen and felt the necessary confidence. Now we have to guarantee him a competitive bike, that's our big goal."

Pit Beirer then continued: “It's clear that we want to take another step in MotoGP. The first two years were about building the project and getting everything done. We are always looking for the best riders and Johann demonstrated his worth by beating the other riders of a Satellite Team, regularly reaching the top positions. I am convinced that with him we can take a big step forward."

Photos: Alex Farinelli